Chrome’s Coolest Feature: File Upload Progress Indicator

Posted on by Mahmoud Al-Qudsi
11

Google Chrome 4.0 went live a couple of weeks ago, and it has a feature that’s been missing in most mainstream browsers ever since the Web was invented: a progress bar that actually shows, well, the progress of uploads. It’s really frustrating to be uploading a large file to a website or as an attachment to an email or forum post and not know whether or not it’s taking this long because it’s just slow or because it’s really stuck.

Chrome 4.0 now shows the status of file uploads as a percentage, making it very clear just how quickly (or not) your uploads are progressing – and it’s something that all browsers should add ASAP. Many social websites rely heavily on uploads of photos, videos, music, and other files and are forced to implement nasty workarounds (such as using Flash upload forms) to present a more user-friendly upload system.

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Google Hiding URIs for Certain Search Results

Posted on by Mahmoud Al-Qudsi
22

Google is now unfortunately hiding the URIs for certain search results far more often than they ever have done in the past… and it’s quite annoying. The Google search site is the pinnacle of function over form: it is sparse, plain, simple, and yet contains tons of information. But it seems that they’re taking it a bit too far now, hiding valuable data making the results pretty useless. Marissa Mayer, where art thou?

As an example, search Google for “libmhash” right now. The first result is the result you want, but you’d never know it from looking at the search result:

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Watch YouTube Videos Without Flash in HTML5

Posted on by Mahmoud Al-Qudsi
137

YouTubeRunning on Mac or Linux and tired of Adobe Flash eating up all your CPU cycles while you’re watching YouTube? Buggy plugins that crash your browser and freeze your PC? Proprietary formats that get in the way? Want to embrace HTML5 and the future? Well, now you can… one YouTube video at a time.

We’ve written an HTML 5 Video Viewer for YouTube, and you can use it to browse YouTube in true 21st Century HTML5 quality. And it’s super-simple to use.

Flash has been the bane of online websurfers ever since the 90s, especially on platforms where Adobe doesn’t bother to go the extra mile to ensure that their proprietary, binary implementations are stable and efficient. On Linux and Mac OS X, the flash implementation takes up over half the available CPU and at high-resolutions stuttering occurs. HTML5 poses the answer providing a way for browsers to use the native implementations to render videos directly in the browser without resorting to ActiveX and 3rd-party browser plugins… it just has yet to be embraced.

But now you can uninstall Flash and enjoy your online videos in peace. Just go to http://neosmart.net/YouTube5/ and enter the URL of a video to watch it in the embedded HTML5 viewer. Yes, you can skip, skim, pause, resume away to your heart’s content.

Even better, we’ve written a GreaseMonkey/UserScript to add a link to all YouTube video pages that points to the HTML5 version, leaving you with no excuse to still use the Flash interface!

All modern browsers that support basic HTML5 are supported. You’ll need to have an MP4 decoder installed on your PC. Happy viewing!

Update:

It’s been brought to our attention that Firefox does not support streaming MP4 content due to licensing restrictions, and as we mention above, an MP4 decoder is a minimum requirement.

Windows 7 Recovery Disk and Repair Disc Download

Posted on by Mahmoud Al-Qudsi
590

Download our recovery and repair disk for Microsoft Windows 7 (also available for Windows 8, Vista, XP or Server editions) that can be used to access system restore tools.

It comes with our exclusive Automated Repair feature, option to access System Restore, tools to backup and recover your most important files, a built-in antivirus scanner and a command-line for advanced recovery options.

Download recovery disk for Windows 7

Looking for recovery disks for other Windows versions?

Easy Recovery Essentials for Windows 7

Our recovery disk supports x86 and x64 platforms and all Microsoft Windows 7 editions, including 32-bit and 64-bit editions: Ultimate, Enterprise, Professional, Home Premium, Home Basic and Starter.

Easy Recovery Essentials (or EasyRE), is a 55 to 135 MiB ISO image ready to be downloaded.

You can burn this ISO image to any CDs, DVDs or USB drives and boot from it to recover or repair your broken computer. We provided instructions on how to do this below, see Burn to CD, DVD or USB.

With the Easy Recovery Essentials you can (see list of features here):

  • Automatically find and fix errors using Automated Repair
  • Recover your PC from infections using its built-in antivirus
  • Restore your PC to a working state
  • Access and backup your most important data (like documents, pictures, music, videos and so on)

Easy Recovery Essentials comes with powerful tools that computer technicians or IT experts can use straight away:

  • Fully-featured visual partition editor
  • Scriptable command line
  • Advanced recovery options
  • Web browser

You can read more about EasyRE for computer repair professionals here.

What is a recovery and repair disk

Windows 7 LogoMajor PC manufacturers no longer give customers a real Windows 7 installation DVD along with their purchase of a computer.

A Windows 7 installation DVD can be used to recover your PC, not just install a Windows 7 copy. The DVD has a “recovery center” that gives you options to Automated Recovery (attempts to fix automatically any errors found), System Restore (restores your computer to the last working state) or you can access a command-line for advanced recovery options.

Instead, customers are expected to create a recovery media themselves – on a CD, DVD or USB drive.

Your computer’s hard drive might have a recovery partition added by the manufacturer, but what happens when your PC or Windows isn’t working or you’ve lost the disks you had?

If you can’t boot into Windows or your PC isn’t working, only a bootable recovery and repair CD/DVD/USB can save you.

Download recovery disk for Windows 7

Easy Recovery Essentials, our recovery and repair disk, uses a non-destructive repair process that can recover your PC without formatting your hard drive or reinstalling Windows.

It comes with our powerful Automated Repair feature, an antivirus scanner built-in, the ability to access System Restore, tools to browse the Internet (a web browser) and back-up your most important files (documents, videos, pictures, music and so on), memory diagnostics and a command-line tools for advanced options.

Some of its features include (see list of features here):

  • One-click Windows repair
  • System Restore
  • Web browser
  • File backup
  • Antivirus scanner
  • Partition editor

Update: Please note that this disk is no longer free, due to licensing restrictions imposed upon us.

Download Easy Recovery Essentials for Windows 7

Our recovery disk supports x86 and x64 platforms and all Microsoft Windows 7 editions:

  • Windows 7 Ultimate (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
  • Windows 7 Enterprise (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
  • Windows 7 Professional (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
  • Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
  • Windows 7 Home Basic (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
  • Windows 7 Starter (32-bit edition) (Starter is available only in 32-bit)

It works with any Windows 7 that has Service Packs installed:

  • Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)

The disk is in ISO image format that you can burn to any CDs, DVDs or USB sticks and then use it as a bootable recovery CD/DVD/USB. We provided step-by-step instructions how to burn the ISO image below.

It’s a 120 MiB download file.

You cannot use a recovery or repair disk to install or reinstall Windows 7.

Burn to CD, DVD or USB

NeoSmart Technologies has published a guide on how to burn an ISO image to CD or DVD. This ISO image can be burnt to any CDs or DVDs and even USB drives.

You can burn the ISO with your favorite burning program. We published step-by-step instructions and guides on how to do this:

If you prefer to have a recovery USB instead, follow our guide on how to make a EasyRE recovery USB drive here.

Compatible with PC manufacturers

Our recovery and repair disk works with any desktop computers, workstations, laptops, notebooks, ultrabooks, netbooks or servers computers from all major PC manufacturers, Dell, Asus, IBM and more.

It works with older or no longer on the market PC brands, such as Gateway Computers or eMachines PCs.

Dell, HP

Dell recovery disk

This disk is compatible with Dell PCs and its manufactured series:

  • Adamo
  • Inspiron
  • Studio
  • Vostro
  • XPS
  • Latitude

Do you have a Dell computer running Windows 7? Read our recovery and restore guide for Dell.

HP recovery disk

Easy Recovery Essentials works with your HP computer, including any of these series and models:

  • ENVY
  • EliteBook
  • Essential Home
  • Pavilion
  • x2 models

Do you have a HP computer running Windows 7? Read our recovery and restore guide for HP.

Asus, Acer

Asus recovery disk

It works with any Asus computer model that runs any of the following Windows versions:

  • Windows 8
  • Windows 7
  • Windows Vista
  • Windows XP
  • Windows Server 2003, Server 2008 and Server 2012

Do you have an Asus computer running Windows 7? Read our recovery and restore guide for Asus.

Acer recovery disk

Acer users can download our disk. It’s compatible with all Acer models:

  • Desktops models: Aspire M and T, Aspire X and Predator G
  • Notebooks models: Aspire R, Aspire V3 and Aspire E
  • Netbooks and ultra-thin computer models: Aspire S7, Aspire S5, Aspire S3, Aspire P, Aspire M, Aspire V7, Aspire V5
  • Netbooks models: Aspire One

Do you have an Acer computer running Windows 7? Read our recovery and restore guide for Acer.

Lenovo, Toshiba, Samsung

Lenovo

Lenovo computers are supported by our disk, including any of the following series:

  • Laptops models: ThinkPad and IdeaPad
  • Desktops models: Thinkcentre and Ideacentre

Essentials series for laptops and desktop PCs are also supported.

Do you have a Lenovo computer running Windows 7? Read our recovery and restore guide for Lenovo.

Toshiba

The disk is compatible with any Toshiba computer model: Satellite, Qosmio, Portege, Tecra, Kira family series and All-in-One desktop series.

Do you have a Toshiba computer running Windows 7? Read our recovery and restore guide for Toshiba.

Samsung

Samsung users can download our disk. It is compatible with any Samsung laptops or desktops:

  • ATIV Book, Gaming and Business PC series for laptops
  • ATIV One for All-in-One desktops

IBM, Compaq, Gateway, eMachines

IBM

Lenovo acquired IBM’s personal computer division in 2005. You can download Easy Recovery Essentials if you own a IBM computer.

It is compatible with IBM desktops and laptops models, like the ThinkPad series.

Compaq

The Compaq company was acquired by HP in 2002.

It is compatible with Compaq notebooks and desktops, including the Compaq Presario series.

Gateway and eMachines

Gateway Computers was acquired by Acer in 2007. If you happen to have a Gateway computer, you can download our disk. It is compatible with its manufactured series:

  • Series SX, DX and One ZX for desktop systems
  • NE and NV series for notebooks
  • LT series for netbooks

Do you have a Gateway computer running Windows 7? Read our recovery and restore guide for Gateway.

eMachines computers were available on sale until 2004 when Gateway Computers (above) brought the company. Gateway was acquired in 2007, but the eMachines brand was used until 2012.

If you own a computer from eMachines, you can download our disk as it is compatible with eMachines PCs.

Disk for Windows 8, Vista, XP or Server editions

Easy Recovery Essentials is compatible with other Windows versions, not just 7.

Windows 8

Read more about our recovery disk for Windows 8. It supports Windows 8 and its update, Windows 8.1.

Download for Windows 8.

Windows Vista

Read more about our recovery disk for Windows Vista. Easy Recovery Essentials supports all Windows Vista editions, from Vista Starter to Vista Ultimate, and the 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

Download for Windows Vista.

Windows XP and Server 2003, 2008 and 2012

Windows XP is supported by Easy Recovery Essentials. This includes Service Packs of XP too: SP1, SP2, SP3.

Easy Recovery Essentials supports all Windows Server editions, such as Server 2003, Server 2008 and Server 2012 and the updated versions: Server 2003 R2, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012 R2.

Support

Easy Recovery Essentials supports all Service Packs (SP) of your Windows:

  • Windows XP SP1, XP SP2, XP SP3
  • Windows Vista SP1, Vista SP2
  • Windows 7 SP1, 7 SP2
  • Windows 8, 8.1
  • Windows Server 2003 R2, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012 R2

Download Easy Recovery Essentials from here.

Please don’t ask for help below, it’ll get real cluttered real soon!

Open a support thread at https://neosmart.net/forums/ and we’ll help you resolve your problem ASAP.

Make Old Java Applications Fully Snow Leopard Compatible

Posted on by Mahmoud Al-Qudsi
31

If you have a bunch of old Java applications lying around in your Mac’s /Applications folder, chances are, you’ll come across this message box when you attempt to run them on Snow Leopard:

To open JavaApplicationStub, you need to install Rosetta. Would you like to install it now?

To open JavaApplicationStub, you need to install Rosetta. Would you like to install it now?

Personally, I try my best to avoid legacy Mac OS apps and haven’t found the need to install Rosetta on OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard as of yet. Whether you have need of Rosetta for your other applications or not, there’s no reason you should be running your Java-based applications through the Rosetta environment — they’ll run just fine on native Intel Java on OS X… with just a little bit of a prod in the right direction.

Java applications are CPU agnostic (hence the “write once, run everywhere” Java motto). The Java applets you download and use can theoretically be run on any PC machine that supports Java; be it Intel, PPC, ARM, SPARC, or more. The native Java virtual machine will translate the “Java bytecode” into the equivalent machine assembly that your PC uses and understands, and therefore, Java code written for legacy Mac OS should run just fine on Snow Leopard

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PCWizKid’s EasyBCD Video Tutorial

Posted on by Mahmoud Al-Qudsi
6

PCWizKid of PCWizKid’s Tech Talk has been kind enough to create an über-cool EasyBCD video tutorial that covers the basics of bootloader configuration and manipulation via EasyBCD. The video’s been an instant-hit on YouTube, and we’ve embedded a copy of it below.

Note that in the video, PCWizKid is using EasyBCD 1.7.2, which is the latest stable version of EasyBCD… But there’s a secret 2.0 version out currently in beta — we recommend you download yourself a copy and be the coolest kid on the block. It’s been rewritten for stability and reliability, and will feature a ton of new Windows 7-only features for your itching, tweaking fingers. :-)



Follow us on twitter @neosmart to keep up with the latest NST news, developments, and releases!

4Chan Strikes Again, Hiding Porn in Kids Clips on YouTube

Posted on by Mahmoud Al-Qudsi
96

Please note: that this sort of post is what the losers at 4Chan get a kick out of and look forward to seeing, it’s clear that they get a perverse sort of pleasure out of hearing these complaints, but isn’t possible for anyone with a shred of dignity to let events like this go without speaking.

4Chan, a group of immature script-kiddies that anonymously post online and organize “attacks” against various groups, organizations, and websites, are it again. This time, it’s not the Church of Scientology they’re attacking, but innocent children. As the BBC reports, members of 4Chan have been uploading videos containing explicit sexual content in droves to YouTube today, specifically targeting children.

The videos uploaded by members of 4Chan consisted of children’s clips that start off innocently enough, showing cartoons and other rated-G material usually targeted at children around 5 years old, but soon enough change to videos of adults engaged in sexual activity. 4Chan has the uncanny ability to strike a nerve, driving even the most liberal of internet users to condemn their behavior as pure evil. The problem is, the anonymous 4Chan members are perversely motivated by this sort of response, and cannot be shamed into bringing an end to their disgusting activities.

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Verified Accounts: Twitter’s Next Attempt at Making Money?

Posted on by Mahmoud Al-Qudsi
7

How much would you pay for people to know you’re really you? That the updates coming in every 2 minutes on that twitter page come from yours truly and not someone else… someone else pretending to be you?

If you’re like most people, the answer is not much. But there are people out there that really care, and with good reason. If you’re the FBI, Oprah Winfrey, or one of the million other celebrities currently on Twitter, you probably don’t want someone out there passing themselves off as yourself while posting fake updates to an account literally millions are watching.

Some people to whom money is not an issue already pay thousands of dollars for meaningless SSL certificates – something tucked away in the corner of your browser window that no one pays much attention to. But imagine if Twitter were to start offering “verified accounts” that have been authenticated as belonging to a particular person or institute… how many of these celebrity accounts would suddenly turn into cash cows for Twitter?

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Mini DisplayPort to Get Some HDMI Competition

Posted on by Mahmoud Al-Qudsi
8

Back in 2008, Apple introduced the new Mini DisplayPort standard as the only video output method on the new MacBooks and LCDs. Mini DisplayPort is a freely-licensed VESA standard [1] and has now been adopted by a number of other display manufacturers, and is a miniaturized version of the original DisplayPort interface.

This week, the fourth revision of the HDMI high-definition video output connector was revealed in the form of HDMI D, weighing in at a mere fraction of the original HDMI connector size and intended for use with mobile and embedded high-definition video devices [2]. The new HDMI connector is expected to ship later this year, and is in direct competition with VESA’s Mini DisplayPort interface.

VESA is the international governing body for computer graphics standards, and has been designing video output standards since its conception in the late 80’s [3]. HDMI is a private group formed in 2002, and licenses its interfaces out to manufacturers at four cents a device + a $10,000 yearly fee.

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Windows 7 Discontinues Ultimate Extras

Posted on by NeoSmart Technologies
31

Users attempting to upgrade from Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Edition to Windows 7 Build 7100 (the unofficial RC1 release leak), are greeted with the following "compatibility warning" dialog:

Windows 7 has discontinued Vista's "Ultimate Extras"

Windows Vista Ultimate Edition’s "Ultimate Extras" have been a constant source of derision and anger from Vista users ever since its release 3 years ago. If the blog posts are to be believed, millions of users purchased Windows Vista Ultimate Edition in the hope that the added-value "Ultimate Extras" package – which was left un-described and of unknown worth at the time – would turn out to be a good investment.

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