Tech Roundup
Just some interesting things that came about this week.
Palm Eos
They aren’t just going to stop at the Pre. Palm has plans to release another WebOS device before the end of the year.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/01/palm-eos-headed-to-sprint-as-well/
Windows 7
There was a lot of buzz surrounding Windows 7 this week. From the release of the first release candidate to the slip from Acer about actual availability on Oct 23.
http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/04/30/2232216&from=rss
http://www.trustedreviews.com/software/news/2009/05/01/Acer-Spills-Windows-7-Release-Date/p1
Microsoft or Apple
This isn’t quite the traditional debate. This week there was lots of talk about whether or not the iphone will ever make it to Verizon or if AT&T will continue on in exclusivity. Weighing that also with the rumors that Microsoft’s ‘Project Pink’ could be an as-of-now unknown runner in the ‘beat the iphone’ race.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/microsofts-pink-smartphone-could-rival-iphone-on-verizon/
Nikon Drops Hefty New Cam
For all of the photogs out there - Nikon has an uber-ridiculous new cam with an articulating display.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/27/nikon-d5000-hands-on/
Microholographic Storage
Researchers are pushing the limits of storage into the 3-D realm using holograms.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/27/ge-microholographic-storage-promises-cheap-500gb-discs-blu-ray/
It took over my avatar
I ran into an interesting problem the other day and I thought I might share the solution I found. When setting up the fingerprint reader on my laptop the security software takes over the usual login screen. So instead of my user avatar it just displays a Dell logo. So I wanted to change this. After some searching I found an individual on a dell forum who had the same problem and figured out where the necessary changes needed to be made. In short, the "oem_resources.dll" file holds the image. Simply replace it with your image and you are set. Full text below:
The embassy software installs it’s own "credential provider". This replaces the Vista login screen with it’s own. Now, the embassy software stores icons in the file c:\windows\system32\oem_resources.dll. All you need to do is delete the "103" resource bitmap from the dll and import your own 128×128 pixel bitmap. First get a copy of xn resource editor (http://www.wilsonc.demon.co.uk/d10resourceeditor.htm). Next copy the oem_resources.dll file to your desktop. Open the dll file in the resource editor. Delete the resource under bitmap/103. Right-click to import a bitmap. Save the file, copy it to c:\windows\system32. No reboot necessary, changes take effect immediatly! You can test it by locking your workstation (window key + L). :: From-http://tinyurl.com/cl42um
I am running Windows 7 also, so it’s not just for Vista.
Ministry Tech Roundtable Session #2
We finished up the final day of Ministry Tech yesterday and it was great. I made some great new connections, I learned new things, and as always feel re-energized. During the conference I had the pleasure of moderating one of the roundtable sessions. Session 2 to be exact. I will post more on the conference later as I go over the notes that I took. For now I am just posting on this session.
These are the notes I grabbed on the discussion for those who wish to comeback and look over our discussion.
Roundtable Session #2 Notes:
Topics
Storage
VLANS - Whats enough how to start etc…
IPv6 - Does it really exist?
2008 Server & Published Apps
Vista & UAC
Windows 7
Internal Wikis/Collaboration
Web based/Hosted Apps
Password Management
Documentation - If you get hit by a bus
Discussion
VLANS
-Dont VLAN without a PLAN
-VLANS behave differently so TEST before rollout
-Strategize Broadcast domains
-EBuford - VLANS:’Theres trouble to be had’
-Older hardware may ‘tag’ traffic differently
-If you use Linksys - We will beat you
-You WILL be accountable for security
-Whats the Entry Point?
-Hub and spoke for VLAN Routing
-Unused ports go into ‘Public’ zone
-VOIP VLAN voice traffic on Same switches
-VOIP does not need a GigPOE switch
-Ruckus -> Wireless solution that provides different access levels(ruckuswireless.com)
IPv6
-Turn it off
-Slows Name Resolution
-Not anytime soon
2008 Server
-What are the benefits?
-Some just member servers some DC’s
Exchange 2010
-It will be possible to upgrade from 2003 to 2010
-Great improvements for Mac users
-Entourage as an apple app would be ‘iSuck’
-Probably don’t want to run the current beta in production
Vista & UAC
-Good hardware and lots of ram
-Very stable
-No problems
-Maybe wait for Windows 7
Windows 7
-Lots of improvements with UI
-Better performance
-RC being released May 5
-Try it
Sonicwall E-Class Single Sign-on and reboot loops
It’s no secret that we have some Sonicwall gear…. and we have been extremely happy with their performance. I have found recently that there is an interesting symptom on the E-Class units.
We utilize most all features on our firewall, from intrusion detection and anti-virus to content filtering. When using the content filtering you can utilize active directory(or another LDAP Server) for single sign-on authentication. This works pretty well but in making some configuration changes we have noticed an unexpected result.
When changes are made to the user account or server used for LDAP authentication, the firewall will start rebooting. This could be an instance when you shutdown a domain controller, or maybe change the password on the account the firewall uses to authenticate users.
I have not heard of any fix from Sonicwall on this issue, but it is definitely something I hope is addressed quickly.
Leave me a comment if you have seen anything like this…your experience may be different.
Personality
Every now and then I like to take some of those online tests. I’m not sure where this was from but the results were interesting.
Does this sound like me?
The Inspirer
You love being around people, and you are deeply committed to your friends.
You are also unconventional, irreverent, and unimpressed by authority and rules.
Incredibly perceptive, you can usually sense if someone has hidden motives.
You use lots of colorful language and expressions. You’re quite the storyteller!
In love, you are quite the charmer. And you are definitely willing to risk your heart.
You often don’t follow through with your flirting or professed feelings. And you do break a lot of hearts.
At work, you are driven but not a workaholic. You just always seem to enjoy what you do.
You would make an excellent entrepreneur, politician, or journalist.
How you see yourself: compassionate, unselfish, and understanding
When other people don’t get you, they see you as: gushy, emotional, and unfocused
Poverty - Blog Action Day
To start off I am excited to take part in Blog Action Day. I have been thinking about this post most of the day, and I’m excited for any part I can play in raising awareness.
While I’ve definitely had a blessed life, I was part of the ‘lower’ class. We used food stamps and I was one of the ‘free lunchers’ in school. I didn’t have name brand things(clothes, food, or otherwise) unless they were on clearance(not sale…clearance), and was never ‘in style’ (usually a few behind). Sure I was made fun of sometimes, but in actuality it wasn’t bad(I had a pretty good time).
Now to take my experience and juxtapose it against the experience of those living in poverty shows how great I have it.
Every morning I can take a shower, when there are those who don’t even have clean drinking water.
I drive to work when there are people who must walk for miles for anything.
If I miss breakfast, I’m “starving” by the time lunch comes around, when some haven’t eaten for days.
I could go on, but reflecting today has shown me how easy it should be for me to thank God in every part of my life.
So where does one go from there? Well there is always some small step one can take to make an impact. A while ago I was shown a website (FreeRice.com) that by playing a game you help the hungry. And there are also organizations like Compassion or World Hope that is making a specific impact in the lives of children(My wife started sponsering a little girl in Uganda a while ago). Whatever you have (money, time, word association skills) you can use them to help the less fortunate.
So take some time today to think about the state of our world. There is plenty for everyone, its just not everywhere it needs to be yet.
Kiosk Rundown
Here’s an overview of our recently finished registration kiosk project.
What are you doing for your kiosks?
What is Your Legacy
I had an interesting string of thoughts today during some of the talks here at MinistryTech. It was a little seed that was planted during Tony Morgan’s presentation.
Tony’s presentation went over the “10 Reasons Why Techies Scare” him. His number 6 reason was that techies don’t document processes. His example involved the concept of ‘the techie before’ and how we aren’t going to be where we are forever, for whatever reason. And we all have stories of knowledge/processes/documentation that left with the techie before us. So what exactly are we leaving behind?
I think that in order to do the best for the ministries we support, the churches we work in, and the God we live for, we must strive to leave a legacy.
Possible Roundtable Competition
While going through my RSS today I happened upon THIS story.
How cool would it be to have a speed cabling competition at the next roundtable?
Sharepoint Training
As you may have read on vaious other blogs, Northwoods was the place to be the week of Jan 7. Bill English, the man who wrote the book on Microsoft’s Sharepoint led 35 or so Church IT workers through the ins and outs of Sharepoint.
Fady got the ball started rolling on this one, and things progressed quickly after that. A location was chosen and registration opened. Once we had the time, the place, and the people it was time to get ready.
The big players on the back-end:
Linda Cleveland - Instrumental in the registration/preparation process for the attendees.
Melanie Gray - Made sure there was room for everyone, and that everyone had what they needed.
Linda McMillen - Kept us fed like noone else could.
The training was a great success in my opinion. My mind was filled to capacity and then some. I went into it thinking that sharepoint was just a simple collaboration/portal. But I have seen its true colors. Photo dump to follow.
Thanks again to everyone who came out, and a special thanks to Bill. Its not often you find someone in the private sector leading a Christian business.