After talking with my co-author of this blog, Wayfarer, we have decided to move our blog. We have noticed, and any readers we have as well, I'm sure, that our blog the past month or two has not really involved "hacking" per se, and so blogging for the Hack Hut just didn't seem to fit. As such, I would like to point you all to our new blog that we set up: the GenTech blog. The GenTech blog will be based more upon any and all technology in general. It's uses, reviews of it, our ideas on it, everything, not just hacking it. Oh, and did I mention it will include mine and wayfarer's college experience next year? That's right. We will, conveniently, be attending the same college in fall, and so we will blog about all of those experiences as well.

So please, come visit us at GenTech! We hope to see you there!

~Sum Deos

Vista Alternate Start Menu

I have begun testing Windows 7, and I already can't stand something.  The start menu.  Oh wait, I couldn't stand Vista's either.  Windows 7 made the start menu even more pretty, but even less useful.  So, I have reverted to a good friend of mine.

Vista Start Menu

It gives Vista a great alternate start menu, similar to the one found on XP.  But wait, I'm not using Vista, this is about Windows 7.  Well guess what, it works for 7 too.  Just my luck!  So download it and fix up your crappy start menu!

Google Chrome 2.0 Released

So for those of you using the previous version of google's web browser, it's time for you to upgrde. Google has just made a rather large software jump to version 2.0. If you hop on over to Googles website and try downloading the new version of their browser. And if you haven't installed the previous version of google chrome then it's time to make the switch. Especially if you are still using explorer LOL. Chrome, for those of you who haven't used it before, is a very minimalist browser. It's beautifully light and the speed it has is pretty damn sweet too. Chrome has lots of awesome functions and it is even above par (at least IMO) structurally. Chrome uses a method called sandboxing, which is basically a way of saying that each individual tab you have open is a seperate process, allowing the sites to run faster and if one crashes the entire application doesn't crash. Which is frackin useful.

I myself haven't gotten a chance to install the new chrome yet, but I will sometime today. I'll hopefully be able to post my observations either later tonight or tomorrow. Unfortunately, my computer is currently being fixed by the school (since I graduated and we get to keep our laptops, the school has to remove all the school software and reinstall a nice new copy of windows on the machines. So not only am I without a laptop for almost a month, when I so get the laptop back I'm going to have to install another Linux partition which is a solid hour out of my day. Fml LOL) and so I'm not able to really do the same depth posts I so when I actually have a computer. He'll, this post right here took me about 35 minutes to type because I have to use my iTouch for the whole thing. And let me tell you, that is a major pain in the ass to do.

So anywho, just bear with me as I try to make blog posts on an iPod for the next nomen or so, and be sure to check back for my opinions on the new version of Google Chrome. I'll install it on my home computer as soon as I get the chance. Until then, everybody have a good start to summer (I know I will) and I'd you haven't already, ditch Internet Explorer for either Mozilla Firefox ilor Google Chrome. It's up to you which one you pick, but please don't pick IE: that's like choosing vista over ubuntu. It's heresy.

Songbird -- My New Love

So, it happens that once in a while I stumble upon a new program and try it out.  Sometimes I fall in love with it.  Other times, I hear of a program and simply refuse to try it out for one reason or another.

And sometimes, I hear about a program, refuse to try it but finally do, and fall in love with it asking why I never tried it earlier.

Enter Songbird.  This is, in my mind, undoubtedly better than iTunes.  As a media player, it does everything I have ever wanted, and so much more than iTunes.  Some of the great features that swung me include:

1. Global Shortcuts.  Now, just like in Linux and OS X, you can hit some keys and have the music go to the next track, previous track, or pause, without actually going back to the application.
2. Launchy/Quicksilver functionality.  While it isn't perfect, I can choose my next tracks without going back to Songbird because it too has a global shortcut.
3. Add-ons!  Songbird is made by Mozilla, the same people who make Firefox.  So, of course, there are many addons which add important functionality to the Media Player.  One of my favorite is the automatic Lyric finder.  Anyone sing?
4. Built in web browser.  While I still use Firefox, the built in web browser is very useful for installing addons and finding music.  Since it is essentially Firefox, perhaps I may stop using the two different applications entirely.
5. Open Source.  'Nuff said.

There are a few things lacking in this program which I would like to see in the future.  I would like to see better "Launchy" integration, which could come in the form of an addon.  Having it be a little more streamlined and effective would be excellent.  Also, better iPod support.  While there is an addon for iPod's, it only works on the older models, the one's that allow "Disk Usage."  My iPod touch is not supported, which means I will need to keep iTunes around.... for now.

Another Konami Code Hack

A few posts ago I showed you how to unlock a cool little facebook Easter egg using the Konami Code. Well, today I'm going to show you another website that has another AWESOME hidden feature that is bound to make you either laugh uncontrollably (as I did) or maybe cry. It really depends on how geeky you are.

Anywho, the website who's hidden feature we will be checking out today is a neat little site that has blog posts about just about any gadget or geeky thing you need. The website, Geek Stuff has all sorts of information ranging from iPod stuff to digital camera's, where to buy them, why to buy them, and all sorts of good information if you're interested in purchasing something.

But that, of course, is not why we are interested in their site. Oh no, we are only interested in what happens when you press [up] [up] [down] [down] [left] [right] [left] [right] [B] [A] [B] [A]. So go ahead, meander on over to Geek Stuff and try out the Konami Code. A word of advice - once you enter the code it will take a few minutes for the Easter Egg to load. And make sure you have your speakers turned on, otherwise you'll miss the amazingness. And while you are unlocking the hidden wonders, remember what the wise men say - "Forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for late pizza".

#Googlefail

For those of you who haven't heard, google went down early today. As in, an epic fail. And it really just goes to show how much of the internet relies on Google's services. It's even scary, one might say. Anywho, here's a wired article to check it out: google fail

Also, just want to apologize for the lack of updates. As most of you are probably in the same boat as myself and Wayfarer, I hope you'll understand. You see, we're both dealing with this little thing called the end of the school year, and for an end-of-year present every year, the schools love to give these gifts called exams. And these wonderful little godsends have been sapping all of our energy and time. So as soon as our exams are over, you can expect more updates to be made. No more of this week-long no-post crap. Apologies again on the delay. And also sorry I couldn't write a longer article today. I have to go... study...

Facebook Easter Egg

I guess Facebook has been on my mind recently, as this post is again about Facebook. It's not, however, a post saying how bad and overbearing Facebook is, and how everyone should be using Twitter instead. This is just a cool little trick you can do with Facebook.

After you log into Facebook, use the arrow keys to type [up][up][down][down][left][right][left][right] then hit the [B] [A] [enter] buttons. This sequence of keys typed in this order (commonly called the Konami Code in the gamer culture) will release a secret easter egg. Please note that on the computer an Easter Egg is a hidden feature, not a little hardboiled egg thats painted.

To view this easter egg, after you use Konami's Code, just scroll up or down in the browser and enjoy!