Windows 8 – Secure Boot “Hacked”

And we’re just on the Developer Preview phase…

After Microsoft’s Build Conference 2011, one of the various things that everyone was talking about was the new Secure Boot to be implemented with Windows 8 + UEFI.
A lot of people, and I believe, because of obvious reasons started to talk about a Microsoft returning to the good old days where on the the main objectives was to ‘erase’ competitors from they’re way.

In a very basic explanation/definition, Secure Boot doesn’t allow anyone from erasing critical files from the boot screen.
It also defines a set of rules that the operating system must achieve before it’s accepted in the boot sequences.
In a very general way, this makes the operating system more secure because theoretically there’s no way for a virus or rootkit to active during boot (hosted by the MBR) deactivating antivirus and other security features before even the launch of the O.S. itself.

Well..that said…Peter Kleissner, an Austrian ‘enthusiast’, twitted that he found a way to avoid this security. He created a 14KB tool called Stoned Lite and he states that the tool doesn’t directly attack both Secure Boot or UEFI.

He also promised to show more of this tool at MalCon conference at the end of the month.

Technorati Tags: microsoft,windows 8,secure boot,uefi,hack,peter kleissner,malcon

Windows Shell Shortcuts

Time saving shortcuts for Windows

I must admit that I’m a little bit fan of everything that could help me increase my work speed so this kind of tips are great for me.
Also, knowing how to create shortcuts to access Windows features can help system administrators to access to some options that are not available through GUI for a standard user.

I would like to refer that this article was based on tips from the website TechRadar.com
So with no more delays, here they are:

Applets and Applications

shell:AddNewProgramsFolder
Open the Control Panel "Install a program from the network" applet
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:Administrative Tools
Displays shortcuts to the applets in your Control Panel\Administrative Tools folder (if any)
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder
Open the Control Panel "Uninstall or change a program" applet
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:Common Administrative Tools
Displays shortcuts to the Public applets in your Control Panel\Administrative Tools folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:ConnectionsFolder
Open the list of Network Connections
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:ControlPanelFolder
Displays Control Panel
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:Default Gadgets
Open the default Sidebar Gadgets folder
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:Gadgets
Open the user folder of downloaded Sidebar Gadgets
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:Immersive Application Shortcuts
Displays shortcuts to the apps on your Metro screen (not regular shortcuts, but still interesting to explore)
Applies to: 8

shell:ProgramFiles
Open the Program Files folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:ProgramFilesX86
Displays 32-bit programs stored on 64-bit Windows, or the \Program Files folder on 32-bit Windows
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:ProgramFilesCommon
Open the Program Files\Common Files folder
Applies to: : : Vista, 7, 8

shell:ProgramFilesCommonX86
Open the Common Files for 32-bit programs stored on 64-bit Windows, or the Program Files\Common Files folder on 32-bit Windows
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:SearchHomeFolder
Open the Windows Search tool
Applies to: : : Vista, 7, 8

Internet Explorer

shell:Cache
Open the Temporary Internet Files folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:Cookies
Open the Internet Explorer Cookies folder
Applies to: : : XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:Favorites
Open the Internet Explorer Favorites folder
Applies to: : : XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:InternetFolder
Launches Internet Explorer
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

Multimedia
shell:My Music
Open the user Music folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:CommonMusic
Open the Public Music folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:SampleMusic
Open the Sample Music folder
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:My Pictures
Open the user Pictures folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:CommonPictures
Open the Public Pictures folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:SamplePictures
Open the Sample Pictures folder
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:SamplePlaylists
Open the Sample Playlists folder
Applies to: Vista

shell:Original Images
Open the folder containing the original versions of images tweaked by Windows Photo Gallery, if installed
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:PhotoAlbums
Open the user Pictures\Slide Shows folder (if present)
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:Podcasts
Open the user Podcasts folder (if Zune is installed)
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:My Video
Open the user Videos folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:CommonVideo
Open the Public Video folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:SampleVideos
Open the Sample Videos folder
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

System Folders

shell:AppUpdatesFolder
Displays installed Windows Updates
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:Common AppData
Open the Public Application Data folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:Common Desktop
Open the Public Desktop
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:Common Documents
Open the Public Documents folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:CommonDownloads
Open the Public Downloads folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:Common Programs
Open the Public Start Menu Programs folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:CommonRingtones
Open the Public ringtones folder. This should contain some sample files - take a look.
Applies to: 7, 8

shell:Common Start Menu
Open the Public Start Menu folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:Common Startup
Open the Public Startup folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:Common Templates
Open the Public Templates folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:Fonts
Open the Fonts folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:Games
Open the Games folder
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:HomeGroupFolder
Open the HomeGroup folder
Applies to: 7, 8

shell:HomeGroupCurrentUserFolder
Open the HomeGroup folder for the currently logged-on user (will disappear immediately if you don't have a homegroup)
Applies to: 8

shell:MyComputerFolder
Open the Computer folder
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:OEM Links
Displays links provided by your PC manufacturer (if any)
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7

shell:NetworkPlacesFolder
Open the Network Places folder
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:PrintersFolder
Open the Printers folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:Public
Open the Users\Public folder for quick access to public Music, Downloads, Pictures and more
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:PublicGameTasks
Open the Public Game Explorer folder
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:ResourceDir
Open the Windows Resources folder (themes are stored here)
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:RecycleBinFolder
Open the Recycle Bin
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:System
Open the Windows System folder
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:Systemx86
Open the Windows System folder for 32-bit files on 64-bit Windows, or \Windows\System32 on 32-bit Windows
Applies to: Vista, 8

shell:UserProfiles
Open the folder holding all user profiles
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:Windows
Open the Windows installation folder (usually \Windows)
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:AppData
Open the user Application Data folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:CD Burning
Open the folder where files are stored before being burned to disc
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:Contacts
Open the user Windows Contacts folder
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:CredentialManager
Open the user Credentials folder
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:Cryptokeys
Open the user encryption keys folder
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:CSCFolder
Open the Client Side Cache Offline Files folder, if supported
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7

shell:Desktop
Open the user desktop folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:Downloads
Open the user downloads folder
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:DpAPIKeys
Opens the users AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Protect folder
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:GameTasks
Open the user Game Explorer folder
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:History
Open the user History folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:ImplicitAppShortcuts
Open the hidden ImplicitAppShortcuts folder
Applies to: 7, 8

shell:Links
Open the user Links folder
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:Local AppData
Open the user Application Data folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:NetHood
Open the user Network Places folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:Personal
Open the user Documents folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:Playlists
Open the user \Music\Playlists folder
Applies to: Vista, 7

shell:PrintHood
Open the user printer shortcuts folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:Profile
Open the user profile folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:Programs
Open the user Start Menu Programs folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:Quick Launch
Open the Quick Launch folder
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:Recent
Open the user's Recent Documents folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:Ringtones
Display the user's Ringtones folder
Applies to: 7, 8

shell:SavedGames
Open the Saved Games folder
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:Searches
Open the saved searches folder
Applies to: Vista, 7, 8

shell:SendTo
Open the user Send To folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:Start Menu
Open the user Start Menu folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:Startup
Open the user Startup folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7, 8

shell:SystemCertificates
Open the user certificates folder
Applies to: Vista, 7

shell:Templates
Open the user Templates folder
Applies to: XP, Vista, 7

shell:User Pinned
Access shortcuts pinned to the Start menu or Taskbar
Applies to: 7

shell:UserTiles
Displays your user tiles (the images you can use for your account)
Applies to: 8

shell:PublicUserTiles
Open the Public user tiles folder
Applies to: 8

shell:Roaming Tiles
Displays further user tiles
Applies to: 8

Technorati Tags: microsft,windows,shell,shortcuts,time,saving

LANDKA – Back in Time App for iPhone and iPad

Portuguese software everywhere!

Landka it’s a Portuguese company dedicated to development of mobile applications for iPhone and iPad.
They’re getting very well know for a new application called ‘Back in Time’.

This application it’s like an interactive encyclopedia that shows the defining moments in the History of the human race, life and universe.
It’s getting a lot of attention of everyone (it was frontpage of iPad Appstore) because of it’s great quality. No only the quality of it information but also because of it’s original and excellent interface.

To know more about Landka:
Landka Homepage

Technorati Tags: landka,ipad,iphone,back in time,encyclopedia,appstore

‘Patents War’– Apple gets one more victory

The ‘worldwide war’ continues…

Ok, this is just getting ridiculous…
The USA patents regulator has accepted the registration of the patent 8,046,721 from Apple which stands for the ‘unlock gesture’.

This patent text description it’s ambiguous enough to get some of the other major smartphone and tablets manufacturer scared.

”A method of unlocking a hand-held electronic device, the device including a touch-sensitive display, the method comprising: detecting a contact with the touch-sensitive display at a first predefined location corresponding to an unlock image; continuously moving the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display in accordance with movement of the contact while continuous contact with the touch screen is maintained, wherein the unlock image is a graphical, interactive user-interface object with which a user interacts in order to unlock the device; and unlocking the hand-held electronic device if the moving the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display results in movement of the unlock image from the first predefined location to a predefined unlock region on the touch-sensitive display.”

So…reading the text I just fill like every actual system today that doesn’t use pins or passwords to unlock are just at risk of getting some court letter to explain themselves.
I truly believe that this patents war it’s going really to far and in my point of view, it’s not Apples, Samsung, Google, Microsoft, etc. fault.

The true guilty are the ones that accept this kind of patent registration…

Technorati Tags: apple,slide,unlock,patents,gesture

Windows 8 – Running in 128MB of RAM

Windows 8 on certified Windows XP machines?

With a lot of information spread over the internet about Windows 8, one of the big things that was obviously also hyped by Microsoft it’s the performance gains.

After a lot of videos and sessions on Microsoft Build 2011 Event showing the fast boot, the way the new OS manages memory and other hardware resources, Marcin Pav, known for some achievements like running Windows 95 on an N95 mobile phone, has released a video showing Windows 8 running on 128MB of RAM.

This is another proof, showing that Microsoft it’s not kidding or joking when states that they want that Windows 8 to be fairly running on pre Windows 7 machines!

There also reports of Softpedia website stating that it made Windows 8 run on 64MB of RAM but of course, it was far from being usable.

Technorati Tags: microsoft,windows,8,performance,ram,128mb,64mb,marcin pav,softpedia

Steve Jobs – Cloud Computing in 1997!

Another proof of a visionary man.

After Steve Jobs death in the past month, a lot of speculation around who really was Steve Jobs hit the Internet in al it’s glory.
The most intense discussions were about what Steve Jobs was indeed. A real visionary that could understand and shape the future of technologies the way he saw things or simply an excellent “implementer “ of other peoples ideas with a of money to use?

Although I’m not a particular Apple fan, proofs of the fantastic visionary and a person that just, somehow understood where technology should evolve and the most important, what people wanted for technology even before people knew!

This video from 1997(!) shows just how remarkable was Steve Jobs. He talks about a thing that in that time was just unknown to a common user and it’s nowadays, 2011(!) known as iCloud.

This just makes me think about what visions of the future he still left for Apple to design!

Technorati Tags: apple,steve,jobs,cloud,icloud,computing,1997,legacy,visionary

Google – How to know your public IP Address

Simple ideas, great features!

Google it’s a company that it’s known for creating nice web applications that just make users life easy.
Things like Google Earth, Google Translate, GMail and a lot more makes Google one innovative company always looking for something that users need.

A new feature available on Google search engine itself, just shows how they are really looking forward to make users more and more happy with searching.
MyIP it’s a new feature that allows users to know they’re public IP Address right on they’re browser.

Like the image above, on Google main page, you just need to query for ‘my ip’ or ‘what is my ip’ and the first line on your search result will be your public ip address.

So, just a simple idea make obviously life easier to everyone.

Technorati Tags: google,ip,address,features,myip,protocol